Spain/ Portugal Explorers

Prince Henry

Mar 4, 1394

Henry the Navigator InfoPrince the Navigator was born in 1394, he was the son of King João of Portugal. He is well known for the voyages that he organized and financed himself, these voyages led to the founding of Africa and the Indies. He was Governor of the Order of Christ from 1420 and died in 1460.

Bartolomeu Dias

Jan 1, 1451

Bart's InfoBorn in 1450, Bartolomeu Dias was sent by Portuguese King John II to explore the coast of Africa and find a way to the Indian Ocean. Dias began his journey August 1487, going around the southern tip of Africa in January 1488. They named this land the Cape of Good Hope. Dias got lost at see in 1500, he was pronounced dead on May 1500.

Amerigo Vespucci

Mar 9, 1451

Amerigo infoAmerigo started going on voyages on May 10, 1497. He is known well for his third voyage where he discovered modern day Rio de Janeiro and Rio de la Plata. He thought he discovered a new continent., he called South America the new world. He died of Malaria in Spain on February 22, 1512.

Christopher Columbus

Oct 31, 1451

Culumbus infoChristopher Columbus had his first voyage of the Atlantic ocean in 1476 that almost killed him. He participated in several other jounreys including ones that would go to Africa. Columbus is most famous for his journey in 1492 that led to the disvocery of the Americas. He died May 20, 1506.

Ponce de Leon

Jan 1, 1460

Ponce's infoJuan Ponce de Leon was born in 1460 in Spain, where he had a strong interest in exploration. He lead a European journey to try and find the mythical fountain of youth. During this journey he ended up discovering the Southeast coast of the United States. He named Florida and became the first governor of Puerto Rico. He died in 1521.

Vasco de Gama

Jan 1, 1469

Vasco's infoVasco was ordered by the King of Portuguese to find a maritime route to the East. He was successful and it was one of the most instrumental events in the history of explorations. He made two other voyages to India, and was nominated as Portuguese viceroy in India in 1524. He died on December 24, 1524.

Francisco Pizarro

Jan 1, 1474

Pizarro infoFrancisco was born in Spain and soon found a profession for voyages and journeys. In 1526 he traveled to Peru and received permission to claim that land for Spain. Pizarro took the Inca leader Atahualpa hostage, had him killed, and then conquered the Inca city of Cuzco. He also founded Lima, the capital of Peru. He lost his life from assasination due to political Rivals in 1541.

Vasco Nunez de Balboa

May 22, 1475

Balboa's inforVasco Nunez de Balboa started exploring at age 25 when he became the first European to see the Pacific Ocean on his journey to the New World in 1500. After exploring present day Colombia, he retired himself on the island of Hispaniola (now Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Where he went in debt and stowed away on a ship to San Sebastian, where he established Darién, On May 21, 1514, the governer of Darién arrested Balboa on charges of Treason, he was beheaded on November 4, 1519

Ferdinand Magellan

Jan 1, 1480

Ferdinand infoFerdinand always had an interest in exploration, as a boy he would study mapmaking and navigation. When he was in his mid-20s he was sailing in large boats and was active in combat. In 1519 he was supported by King Charles V of Spain to circumnavigate the globe. He did this to prove the world was indeed round, this ended up taking his life on April 27, 1521.

Hernan Cortes

Jan 1, 1485

Cortes infoHernan was from Spain and is well known for overthrowing the Aztec empire and winning the Mexican crown for Spain. When he was just 19, he voyaged on to find Cuba, and modern day Mexico. He was very strategical and organized with anything he would do. He was soon to be overthrown from his powers. He died in Spain on December 2, 1547